The curtains are almost down on 2022 but the show seems to will itself on. The year was much-awaited as Bollywood was rooting for its big releases after two years of the country being in lockdown mode with the pandemic. But Hindi cinema had the most challenging time impressing audiences.
Many major releases including Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra, Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha, Gowtam Tinnanuri’s Jersey, and others pushed their launch dates to escape the lockdown impact. But they ended as a lost cause. While Bollywood failed to break records, South Indian films ruled the box office.
Several regional films saw the audience lapping it up, including diehard Hindi viewers. The year saw new grounds as SS Rajamouli’s pan-India film RRR roared at the box office. Following this came Prasanth Neel’s KGF Chapter 2, Kamal Haasan’s Vikram, and other blockbuster films when Bollywood failed to read the audiences’ pulse despite starring A-listers like Ranveer Singh in Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Shahid Kapoor in Jersey, Vijay Devarakonda in Liger, Aamir Khan in Laal Singh Chaddha, Ranbir Kapoor in Shamshera, and Hrithik Roshan along with Saif Ali Khan in Vikram Vedha and how could one not mention the recent bomb, Rohit Shetty’s film Cirkus starring Ranveer Singh.
As we evaluate the passing year, let’s take a look at regional films that did better than Hindi films.
RRR
The SS Rajamouli film starring Ram Charan, NT Rama Rao Jr, Shriya Saran, and Samuthirakani in the lead roles hit the theatres on March 24. It also featured Bollywood’s Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn who played a key role in the promotions making it a blockbuster hit. Alia Bhatt was seen promoting RRR along with SS Rajamouli, Ram Charan, and NTR Jr in all major cities including Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai.
Credit goes to the marketing team who made use of its Hindi cast Bhatt and Devgn and made sure the film reaches a wider audience.
For those unversed, RRR is the most expensive Indian film to date made on a budget of a whopping Rs 550 crore. Reports say RRR made Rs 240 crore worldwide on its first day in theatres breaking the record for the highest opening day collection by an Indian film. The film not only became the highest-grossing film in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but also became the third Indian film and the first Telugu film to be nominated at the Golden Globes in the Best Non-English Language Film category and for the Best Original Song.
Speaking to Screendaily, SS Rajamouli said “I’m trying to find out why Westerners like the film so much. From what I’ve read on social media, it’s a mix of unapologetic superheroism and the unexpected movement from action to romance, comedy, dance and action. But this is how we tell stories in India. There’s something for everyone.”
The film’s success was not only because of its star cast or the director. From the well-written script to catchy music, Rajamouli didn’t go wrong with any element accountable for making a film a hit. And Naatu Naatu song being shortlisted in the Best Original Song Category at the 95th Academy Awards is its testimony.
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KGF: Chapter 2
After RRR, this Kannada film directed and written by Prashanth Neel took over the theatres. Featuring Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty, and Prakash Raj in prominent roles, KGF: Chapter 2 went on floors on April 14 in five languages including Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.
The period action thriller shattered records and became the second highest-grossing film in India, the highest-grossing Indian film in 2022, and the third highest-grossing Indian film worldwide. Reports say KGF: Chapter 2 was produced on a budget of Rs 100 crore which is the most expensive Kannada film in history. The film collected Rs 1,200-1,250 crore globally.
On the failure of Bollywood, KGF 2 star Yash, while speaking to Film Companion, said he doesn’t want Kannada people to put any other industry down as even the Kannada industry faces the same problem.
“I don’t want the people of Karnataka to put any other industry down, because we have faced the same problem when everyone treated us the same way. We have worked hard to get that respect. After that, we cannot start disrespecting anyone. We should respect everybody. Respect Bollywood. Forget this north and south,” Yash said.
Vikram
The Kamal Haasan-Vijay Sethupathi film was released theatrically on June 3 after a long delay due to Covid restrictions. Directed and written by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film was shot on a budget of Rs 120-150 crore and earned Rs 420-Rs 500 crore after its release and became the second highest-grossing Tamil film and fifth highest-grossing Indian film of 2022, and the fourth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time.
Vikram was released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi and received rave reviews for its cinematography, writing, cast, and action sequences. The film’s trailer was released in May and crossed over 1.2 crore views within 24 hours of its release, reports said.
Sita Ramam
Sita Ramam is a poetic and poignant love story that will give you a sense of the 60s-70s romance caught on film in Indian cinema. Starring Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur, the film became a critical and commercial success and earned more than Rs 91.4 crore at the box office.
Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, the film faced a ban in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. However, the simple-hopeless romantic film, but not cliche, earned praise.
This Telugu-period romance was also compared with the classic Hindi romantic film Veer-Zara starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukherjee.
Kantara
Kantara was the cherry on the cake for Kannada cinema that couldn’t suppress a triumphant smile with the success of KGF: Chapter 2. Rishab Shetty’s direction and writing became the talk of the town when Kantara hit theatres on September 30, unveiling the Bhoota Kola tradition.
The film emerged as a huge commercial success and became the second-highest-grossing Kannada film of all time and the second-highest-grossing Kannada film of 2022. After the success of its Kannada version, the makers announced its dubbed Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam versions as well. The domestic net collections of all the versions crossed Rs 200 crore in 30 days, reports said.
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Kantara also found itself in a plagiarism controversy as Thaikkudam Bridge, a popular music band from Kerala, accused the makers of lifting their tune. Given the social media age, Thaikkudam Bridge slammed Kantara on Instagram levelling serious plagiarism charges for a blatant infringement of copyright laws as the song Varaha Roopam in Kantara had been allegedly copied from their song, Navarasam.
Nonetheless, Rishab Shetty’s directorial impacted a wider audience and the Karnataka State Government announced a monthly allowance for Bhoota Kola performers over 60 years of age.
Ponniyin Selvan: I
Mani Ratnam’s epic historical action drama, Ponniyin Selvan: I starred Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Trisha, Karthi, Jayaram, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, R Sarathkumar, Prakash Raj, R Parthiban, Rahman, and Lal in lead roles.
The multi-starrer film was made on a budget of Rs 500 crore. Although it received mixed reactions from both critics and the audience, it became the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2022, the fourth-highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, and the 15th-highest-grossing Indian film of all time.
Mani Ratnam also confirmed Ponniyin Selvan: II which will be released theatrically after 6-9 months of PS1.
As is very visible, not even one Bollywood film did the numbers like regional films in 2022. The year, however, proved to be a success for Alia Bhatt as her film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gangubai Kathiawadi which released in March was the lone Bollywood hit, she continued with her other successes in RRR, Brahmastra, and Darlings on Netflix.
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Other films that made some noise at the box office were Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files, Bhool Bhulaiya 2, and the most recent Drishyam 2.
Now, the concern is whether Bollywood will make a comeback next year or go further down. 2023 has a lot on its plate for Bollywood with big releases like Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s Pathaan, Prabhas’s Adipurush, Siddharth Malhotra’s Mission Majnu, Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Luv Ranjan’s Tu Jhooti Main Makkar, Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki, Ajay Devgn’s Bholaa, Kartik Aaryan’s Shehzada, Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, Varun Dhawan’s Bawaal, and others.
Usha Nadkarni reflects on living alone at 80, abusive childhood and sacrifices behind her acting career
Veteran actor Usha Nadkarni reflects on living alone since 1987, her abusive childhood, motherhood and the struggles behind her successful acting career.
Veteran actor Usha Nadkarni, known for her memorable performances in Marathi and Hindi films, television and theatre, has opened up about the personal struggles that shaped her life. From surviving an abusive childhood to living alone for decades and balancing motherhood with a demanding acting career, the 80-year-old actor shared intimate details of her journey in recent and past interviews.
Despite the hardships, Nadkarni says she continues to work and live independently in Mumbai while embracing the life she has built over nearly seven decades in the entertainment industry.
Usha Nadkarni says she has lived alone since 1987
Speaking in a recent interview with Rajshri Marathi, Nadkarni revealed that she has been living alone since 1987. With her son now settled overseas and her siblings no longer alive, she has gradually become comfortable with solitude.
She recalled that she initially feared staying alone and would ask the building’s security guard to accompany her to her apartment. Over time, however, those fears disappeared.
The veteran actor also spoke candidly about ageing and mortality, saying she occasionally thinks about death because she lives alone but does not fear it. She added that she believes death comes differently for everyone and has accepted that reality.
Her son was raised by her mother during her busiest years
Nadkarni also reflected on her personal life, sharing that she separated from her husband many years ago. She said there is no bitterness between them and that she has maintained cordial relations with his family over the years.
She explained that her son spent much of his childhood with her mother while she remained occupied with Marathi theatre and acting commitments. In an earlier interview, she had revealed that he also stayed at her brother’s house because it offered more space.
Looking back, Nadkarni shared that her son still tells her she only gave birth to him and that his real mother was actually his grandmother, who raised him during those formative years.
Actor recalls growing up with a violent father
Nadkarni has also spoken publicly about the difficult environment in which she grew up. She described her father, an Air Force officer, as a man with a violent temper whose anger often left the family frightened.
According to the actor, even minor household matters, such as an untidy newspaper or improperly arranged schoolbooks, could trigger angry outbursts.
She also recounted an incident in which she tried to protect her brother from being beaten and was injured on her arm after her father attacked her with a curved farming blade. Despite the injury, she went ahead with a stage performance the following day.
Family opposed her dream of becoming an actor
The actor said her passion for acting began in childhood, but pursuing that ambition was far from easy.
She recalled first confiding in her mother, hoping for support, but instead faced strong opposition. According to Nadkarni, her mother threw her belongings out of the house, forcing her to stay with a friend for nearly a week before eventually returning home.
Reflecting on those years, she said societal opinions did not stop her from following her dream. Nadkarni noted that she first performed on stage while studying in the fourth standard and continues acting even at the age of 80.
Career built on determination
Over nearly 70 years, Usha Nadkarni has established herself as one of the most respected actors in Marathi and Hindi entertainment.
She has previously acknowledged that there were periods when she accepted projects primarily for financial reasons, even when she felt she was not receiving the professional respect she deserved. Despite those challenges, she has continued to remain active in films, television and theatre, building a career defined by perseverance and resilience.
Veteran actor Pradeep Rawat, best known for his performances in Ghajini, Lagaan and the television epic Mahabharat, died on Tuesday evening while undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 74.
Rawat breathed his last at around 6 pm. He had initially been admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai before being shifted to a cancer hospital in Bhiwandi around 10 days ago for further treatment. He is survived by his wife and son, Vikramaditya.
Yashpal Sharma pays tribute
Actor Yashpal Sharma paid tribute to Pradeep Rawat through a post on his Instagram handle following the veteran actor’s demise.
Career spanning more than three decades
Pradeep Rawat built a successful acting career across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema over more than three decades.
He gained widespread recognition for portraying the ruthless antagonist in the 2005 Tamil film Ghajini. The performance earned him the opportunity to reprise the same role alongside Aamir Khan in the Hindi remake released in 2008.
Before Ghajini, Rawat had shared screen space with Aamir Khan in the 2001 film Lagaan.
Many television viewers also remember him for portraying Ashwatthama, the son of Dronacharya, in BR Chopra’s iconic television series Mahabharat. Although he made his film debut with Meri Jung in 1985, the television role brought him widespread recognition.
Memorable performances across languages
Throughout his career, Rawat appeared in several notable films, including Sarfarosh, The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, Stalin, Veeram, 1: Nenokkadine, Loukyam, Nenu Sailaja, Sarrainodu, Nene Raju Nene Mantri, Aayirathil Iruvar, Market Raja MBBS and Miss Match.
A significant milestone came with SS Rajamouli’s Sye (2004), which marked his debut in Telugu cinema.
Tamil actor Dhanush has sparked political rumours after urging his fan clubs to focus on public service and “find a purpose” beyond celebrating his films during a blood donation camp in Chennai.
While his remarks triggered widespread discussion online, the actor hasn’t formally announced his political entry.
Addressing members of his fan associations, Dhanush encouraged them to channel their collective strength towards welfare initiatives that could positively impact society. He urged his supporters to identify the needs of people in their local communities and extend help wherever possible, saying he wanted his fans to be known for their service rather than just their support for his films.
The speech quickly gained attention on social media, with several users drawing comparisons between Dhanush and actor-politician Vijay, whose fan clubs had similarly expanded their welfare activities before he formally entered politics. Many online users interpreted Dhanush’s emphasis on organised social work as a possible indication of future political ambitions.
Dhanush did not make any reference to joining politics or launching a political outfit during his address. His speech remained focused on encouraging fans to undertake blood donation drives, charitable work and other community welfare initiatives.
The actor’s fan clubs have long been involved in social service activities, including relief work, blood donation camps and assistance during natural disasters. His latest remarks have, however, brought back online discussions over whether he could eventually follow the path taken by Vijay and several other Tamil cinema personalities who entered public life.
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